Synthetic studies on nogalamycin congeners [3]1,2 total syntheses of (+)-nogarene, (+)-7-deoxynogarol,and (+)-7-con-o-methylnogarol

According to the retrosynthetic perspective, the title total syntheses were accomplished by employing the regioselective Diels-Alder reactions of the (+)-naphthoquinone (5), the CDEF-ring system of nogalamycin congeners, with various structural types of dienes (8, 16, and 26). The highly functionalized dienes (16 and 26) incorporating all the functionalities present in the A-rings of (+)-7-deoxynogarol (3) and (+)-7-con-O-methylnogarol (2), were prepared efficiently by way of the 1 ,4-cyclohexadiene and 2-cyclohexanone derivatives (6 and 21), respectively. Reaction mechanism of the key Diels-Alder reaction was also discussed in terms of its stereoselectivity.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide, (-)-triptonide, (+)-triptophenolide, and (+)-triptoquinonide

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide (1), (-)-triptonide (2), (+)-triptophenolide (3), and (+)-triptoquinonide (4) was completed. The key step involves lanthanide triflate-catalyzed oxidative radical cyclization of (+)-8-phenylmenthyl ester 30 mediated by Mn(OAc)3, providing intermediate 31 with good chemical yield (77%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (dr 38:1). (+)-Triptophenolide methyl ether (5) was then prepared in > 99% enantiomeric excess (> 99% ee), and readily converted to natural products 1-4. In addition, transition state models were proposed to explain the opposite chiral induction observed in the oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters 17 (without an alpha-substituent) and 17a (with an alpha-chloro substituent).     

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (-)-(E)16-epiaffinisine, (+)-(E)16-epinormacusine B,and (+)-dehydro-16-epiaffinisine as well as the stereocontrolled total synthesis of alkaloid G

An efficient strategy is described for the total synthesis of the sarpagine-related indole alkaloids (-)-(E)16-epiaffinisine (1), (+)-(E)16-epinormacusine B (2), and (+)-dehydro-16-epiaffinisine (4). A key step employed the chemospecific and regiospecific hydroboration/oxidation at C(16)-C(17); this method has also resulted in the synthesis of (+)-dehydro-16-epinormacusine B (5). The oxy-anion Cope rearrangement followed by protonation of the enolate that resulted under conditions of kinetic control has been employed to generate the key asymmetric centers at C(15), C(16), and C(20) in alkaloid G (7) in a highly stereocontrolled fashion (>43:1). Conditions that favor control of the sarpagine stereochemistry at C(16) vs the epimeric ajmaline configuration at the same stereocenter have been determined. The formation of the required cyclic ether in 4, 5, and 7 was realized with complete control from the top face on treatment of the corresponding alcohols with DDQ/THF or DDQ/aq THF in excellent yields.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-ottelione A, (-)-ottelione B, (+)-3-epi-ottelione A and preliminary evaluation of their antitumor activity

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-ottelione A (1) and (-)-ottelione B (2), novel and potent antitumor agents from a freshwater plant, and (+)-3-epi-ottelione A (3), the earlier proposed stereostructure of 1, was efficiently achieved starting from the known tricyclic compound 10. The synthesis involved the following key steps: i) coupling reactions of aldehydes 8 and 9 with the aromatic portion 7 (8+7-->15 and 9+7-->27), ii) base-induced hemiacetal-opening/epimerization reactions of the cyclic hemiacetals 6 and 27 (6-->17 and 27 a-->26 a), and iii) Corey-Winter's reductive olefination of the cyclic thiocarbonates 21 and 36 (21-->22 and 36-->37). The present total synthesis fully established the absolute configuration of these natural products. The cell growth inhibition profile, COMPARE analysis, and tubulin inhibitory assay of (+)-3-epi-ottelione A (3) and its O-acetyl derivative 24 demonstrated that these unnatural substances could be prominent lead compounds for the development of anticancer agents with a novel mode of action.     

Total syntheses of (+)-chloropuupehenone and (+)-chloropuupehenol and their analogues and evaluation of their bioactivities

Tetracyclic pyrans (+)-chloropuupehenone (1) and (+)-chloropuupehenol (5) and its C8-R-isomer (+)-3 were synthesized via a one-pot condensation of 1-chloro-2-lithio-3,5,6-tris(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)benzene (8) with (4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthalene-1-carboxaldehyde (7). The major condensation product, (4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (4), after desilylation provided tetracyclic pyran (+)-(4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene-9,10-diol (3). At a dosage of 42 mg/rat over 8 h, pyran diol 3 inhibited the intestinal absorption of cholesterol by 71% in rats. Tetracyclic pyran 4 was also converted to o-quinone 28, which inhibited cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and L1210 leukemic cell viability with IC(50) values of 31 and 2.4 microM, respectively. Diol (+)-5 inhibited CETP activity with an IC(50) value of 16 microM. The minor condensation product, (4aS,6aS,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (6), was transformed into (+)-5 and (+)-1. A stepwise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1 was also developed utilizing an oxyselenylation ring-closure reaction. The synthetic sequence also produced four biologically active naturally occurring drimanic sesquiterpenes, (+)-drimane-8alpha,11-diol (34), (-)-drimenol (38), (+)-albicanol (39), and (-)-albicanal (31) as intermediates.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofuran lignans via BF(3) x OEt(2)-promoted reductive deoxygenation/epimerization of cyclic hemiketal: synthesis of (-)-odoratisol C, (-)-futokadsurin A, (-)-veraguensin, (+)-fragransin A(2), (+)-galbelgin, and (+)-talaumidin

A versatile route to the synthesis of 2,5-diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran lignans, (-)-odoratisol C (1), (-)-futokadsurin A (2), (-)-veraguensin (3), (+)-fragransin A2 (4), (+)-galbelgin (5), and (+)-talaumidin (6), is described. Central to the synthesis of the lignans is BF(3) x OEt(2)-promoted deoxygenation/epimerization of the hemiketal 9a followed by stereoselective reduction of the oxocarbenium ion intermediates 8a,b.     

Highly efficient total synthesis of the marine natural products (+)-avarone, (+)-avarol, (-)-neoavarone, (-)-neoavarol and (+)-aureol

Biologically important and structurally unique marine natural products avarone (1), avarol (2), neoavarone (3), neoavarol (4) and aureol (5), were efficiently synthesized in a unified manner starting from (+)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone 10. The synthesis involved the following crucial steps: i) Sequential BF(3)Et(2)O-induced rearrangement/cyclization reaction of 2 and 4 to produce 5 with complete stereoselectivity in high yield (2 --> 5 and 4 --> 5); ii) strategic salcomine oxidation of the phenolic compounds 6 and 8 to derive the corresponding quinones 1 and 3 (6 --> 1 and 8 --> 3); and iii) Birch reductive alkylation of 10 with bromide 11 to construct the requisite carbon framework 12 (10 + 11 --> 12). An in vitro cytotoxicity assay of compounds 1-5 against human histiocytic lymphoma cells U937 determined the order of cytotoxic potency (3 > 1 > 5 > 2 > 4) and some novel aspects of structure-activity relationships.     

Total syntheses of the Securinega alkaloids (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine, (-)-norsecurinine, and phyllanthine

A new strategy for enantiospecific construction of the Securinega alkaloids has been developed and applied in total syntheses of (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8), (-)-norsecurinine (6), and phyllanthine (2). The B-ring and C7 absolute stereochemistry of these biologically active alkaloids originated from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (10), which was converted to ketonitrile 13 via a high-yielding eight-step sequence. Treatment of this ketonitrile with SmI2 afforded the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane B/C-ring system 14, which is a key advanced intermediate for all three synthetic targets. Annulation of the A-ring of (-)-norsecurinine (6) with the required C2 configuration via an N-acyliminium ion alkylation was accomplished using radical-based amide oxidation methodology developed in these laboratories as a key step, providing tricycle 33. Annulation of the D-ring onto alpha-hydroxyketone 33 with the Bestmann ylide 45 at 12 kbar gave (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8). In the securinine series, the D-ring was incorporated using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination of phenylselenylated alpha-hydroxyketone 47. The C14,15 unsaturation was installed late in the synthesis by an oxidative elimination of the selenoxide derived from tetracyclic butenolide 50 to give (-)-norsecurinine (6). The A-ring of phyllanthine (2) was formed from hydroxyketone 14 using a stereoselective Yb(OTf)3-promoted hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the derived imine 34 with Danishefsky's diene, affording adduct 35. Conjugate reduction and stereoselective equatorial ketone reduction of vinylogous amide 35 provided tricyclic intermediate 36, which could then be elaborated in a few steps to stable hydroxyenone 53 via alpha-selenophenylenone intermediate 52. The D-ring was then constructed, again using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination reaction to give phyllanthine (2).     

Syntheses of (+)- and (–)-Methyl 8-Epinonactate and (+)- and (–)-Methyl Nonactate

In four synthetic steps, (+)- and (–)-methyl 8-epinonactate ((+)- and (–)− 4 ) have been derived from (+)- and (–)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)- and (–)− 9 ), respectively. The (+)- and (–)-methyl nonactate ((+)- and (–)− 3 ) were obtained from (+)- and (–)− 4 , respectively, by Mitsunobu displacement reactions. Optical resolution of (±)− 9 via chromatographic separation of the corresponding N-methyl-S-alkyl-S-phenylsulfoximides 24 and 25 yielded the starting materials (+)- and (–)− 9 , respectively.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-cheimonophyllon e and (+)-cheimonophyllal

The highly enantiocontrolled total syntheses of natural (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) and (+)-cheimonophyllal (6), biologically intriguing oxygenated bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, have been completed. The present synthetic strategy featured the use of an asymmetric aldol-type reaction for preparing in the first synthetic step an optically active 6-C-substituted 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone derivative. Thus, a Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 1-methyl-3-silyloxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene 31 with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde 11 in the presence of a chiral (acyloxy)borane (CAB)-type Yamamoto catalyst 33 proceeded with high levels of both diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The predominant aldol adduct, syn-9, was transformed into gamma,delta-epoxy allylic alcohol 8 by a nine-step sequence, including the substrate-controlled 1,2-reduction of enone, syn-12, also the epoxidation of allylic alcohol 15. Epoxy-alcohol 8 underwent 5-exo-cyclization in a high regioselective manner under acidic conditions to produce a bicyclic key intermediate (+)-7, which was eventually efficiently converted to (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) or (+)-cheimonophyllal (6).     

A Synthesis of (+)-Oblongolide

The absolute configuration of natural oblongolide is reassigned as (3aS,5aR,7S,9aS,9bS)-3a,5a,6,7,8,9,9a,9b-octahydro-7,9b-dimethylnaphtho[1,2-c]furan-1(3H)-one 2 by a 7-stage synthesis of its enantiomer 1 from (+)-citronellol involving a regioselective reduction and an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction (IMDA) as the key steps. (+)-Citronellol was converted into methyl (2E,4E,10E)-(S)-(+)-11-tert-butoxycarbonyl-7-methyl-undeca-2,4,10-trienoate 7 by sequential Lemieux-Johnson oxidation, Wittig reaction, pyridinium chlorochromate oxidation, and Wadsworth-Emmons-Homer alkenation. A regioselective reduction of the methoxycarbonyl group in 7 afforded tert-butyl (2.E,8E,10E)-(S)-(+)-2,6-dimethyl-12-hydroxy-dodeca-2,8,10-trienoate 8 from which (+)-oblongolide was readily obtained via an IMDA reaction.     

Total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine, (+)-cylindricine c, and (-)-fasicularin via a common intermediate formed by formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization

A very short and efficient enantioselective total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine (3), (+)-cylindricine C (1c), and (-)-fasicularin (4) has been developed utilizing the formyloxy 1-azaspiro[4.5]decane 5 as a common intermediate. The key strategic element for the synthesis was the formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization, which proved to be a highly efficient and stereoselective way to rapid construction of the 1-azaspirocyclic substructure of these natural products in a single operation. Thus, the common intermediate 5, synthesized in two steps with 70% overall yield starting from the known (S)-N-Boc-2-pyrrolidinone 7 via the conjugate spirocyclization using an acyclic ketoamide 6, was utilized for the concise and stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-lepadiformine (3), which was accomplished in seven steps with 45% overall yield from 5 (31% yield from 7). The developed strategy based on the conjugate spirocyclization was also applied to the stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-cylindricine C (1c), which was achieved in 10 steps from 5 in 18% overall yield (12% yield from 7). Further application of this approach using 5 led to the synthesis of (-)-fasicularin (4), wherein an extremely efficient method for the introduction of the thiocyanato group via an aziridinium intermediate at the last step was developed. Thus, the highly efficient first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-fasicularin was accomplished in nine steps with an overall yield of 41% from 5 (28% yield from 7).     

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine, (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine,and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine via a nonchiral pool route that involves the Sharpless epoxidation to induce chirality is reported. The key steps involve vinyl epoxide aminolysis, ring-closing metathesis, and intramolecular N-alkylation to prepare the indolizidine ring and a highly diastereoselective cis-dihydroxylation using AD-mix-alpha. This synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine.     

Biomimetic total syntheses of (-)-TAN1251A, (+)-TAN1251B, (+)-TAN1251C, and (+)-TAN1251D

[reaction: see text] The muscarinic antagonists (-)-TAN1251A (1), (+)-TAN1251B (2), (+)-TAN1251C (3), and (+)-TAN1251D (4) have been synthesized biomimetically by enamine formation from an amino aldehyde to give TAN1251C ketal 18. Oxidation and reduction lead to TAN1251A (1), which has been hydroxylated to give TAN1251B (2). Stereospecific reduction of TAN1251C ketal 18 leads to TAN1251D (4).     

Synthesis of (+)-(4S, 8R)hyphen;8hyphen;Epi- and (−)-(4R, 8S)-4-Epi-β-bisabolol

The first total enantioselective synthesis of (+)-(4S, 8R)-8-epi-β-bisabolol(+)- 1 and of (?)-(4R, 8 S )-4-epi-β-bisabolol ((?))? 1 ) is reported. The key step in the synthesis is the kinetic resolution of (±)? 5 by means of the Sharpless epoxidation yielding (?)- and (+}? 6 , respectively. Reduction of the epoxides with LiAlH₄ gave the diols (+)-and(?)? 7 which were transformed into (+)- and (?)? 8 , respectively, via the corresponding mesylate. Reaction of these epoxides with the Grignard reagent derived from homoprenylbromide, assisted by Li₂CuCl₄, finished the synthesis of the target compounds 1 with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity.     

Carbonylation of (+)-2-carene induced by iron-pentacarbonyl.

(+)-2-carene heated neat with iron pentacarbonyl leads to α-phellandrene-Fe(CO)₃ complex ( ～15 % ), p. cymene ( ～15 % ), (-)-(1S)-3,8,8-trimethylbicyclo (4.1.1) oct-3-ene-7-one ( ～50 % ) and (+)-(1S,7S)-3,8,8-trimethylbicyclo (4.1.1.) oct-3-ene-7-ol ( ～20 % ).     

Biotransformation of pinoresinol diglucoside to mammalian lignans by human intestinal microflora,and isolation of Enterococcus faecalis strain PDG-1 responsible for the transformation of (+)-pinoresinol to (+)-lariciresinol

By anaerobic incubation of pinoresinol diglucoside (1) from the bark of Eucommia ulmoides with a fecal suspension of humans, eleven metabolites were formed, and their structures were identified as (+)-pinoresinol (2), (+)-lariciresinol (3), 3'-demethyl-(+)-lariciresinol (4), (-)-secoisolariciresinol (5), (-)-3-(3", 4"-dihydroxybenzyl)-2-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzyl)butane-1, 4-diol (6), 2-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-3-(3", 4"-dihydroxybenzyl)butane-1, 4-diol (7), 3-(3"-hydroxybenzyl)-2-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzyl)butane-1, 4-diol (8), 2-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-3-(3"-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1, 4-diol (9), (-)-enterodiol (10), (-)-(2R, 3R)-3-(3", 4"-dihydroxybenzyl)-2-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzyl)butyrolactone (11), (-)-(2R, 3R)-2-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-3-(3", 4"-dihydroxybenzyl)butyrolactone (12), (-)-(2R, 3R)-3-(3"-hydroxybenzyl)-2-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzyl)butyrolactone (13), 2-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-3-(3"-hydroxybenzyl)butyrolactone (14), 2-(3'-hydroxybenzyl)-3-(3", 4"-dihydroxybenzyl)butyrolactone (15) and (-)-(2R, 3R)-enterolactone (16) by various spectroscopic means, including two dimensional (2D)-NMR, mass spectrometry and circular dichroism. A possible metabolic pathway was proposed on the basis of their structures and time course experiments monitored by thin-layer chromatography. Furthermore, a bacterial strain responsible for the transformation of (+)-pinoresinol to (+)-lariciresinol was isolated from a human fecal suspension and identified as Enterococcus faecalis strain PDG-1.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-negamycin

An asymmetric synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-negamycin (1) has been achieved, starting from commercially available (5R,6S)-4-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-5,6-diphenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,4-oxazin-2-one (2). The synthesis involved the stabilized Wittig olefination of the lactone carbonyl group of 2 and subsequent asymmetric hydrogenation to generate the corresponding all-syn oxazine 4 with excellent diastereoselectivity. Conversion of 4 into beta-alkoxy imine 7 and subsequent CeCl3-promoted chelation-controlled allylation of 7 generated the corresponding homoallylamine 8 with good diatereoselectivity, which was readily converted into (+)-negamycin (1) in 25% overall yield over 11 steps.     

Synthesis of the azaphilones (+)-sclerotiorin and (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine utilizing (+)-sparteine surrogates in copper-mediated oxidative dearomatization

Enantioselective syntheses of the azaphilone natural products (+)-sclerotiorin and (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine that possess the natural R-configuration at the quaternary center are reported. The syntheses were accomplished using copper-mediated asymmetric dearomatization employing bis-μ-oxo copper complexes prepared from readily available (+)-sparteine surrogates. Of note, site-selective O-methylation of a vinylogous pyridone was used to access the isoquinolin-6(7H)-one core of (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine.